Process and apparatus for reclaiming waste oil



April 9, 1929..

I R. R. ROSENBAUM PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING WASTE OIL Filed June 1, i927 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES RUDOLPH R. ROSENIBAUM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RECLAIMING WASTE OIL.

Application filed June 1,

My invention relates to the reclaiming of waste oil such as crank case oil, transformer oil, .or the like. Crank case oil, due to the accumulation therein of impurities such as carbon, moisture, dust, coloring matters, etc., soon become useless as a lubricating agent and must be withdrawn. Not only has the oil been fouled by these mechanical impurities, but during its service the oil has also undergone certain chemical changes, resulting in the formation of chemical-compounds which destroy the usefulness of the oil as a lubricant unless they are removed; An important object of my invention is therefore to produce a simple, practical and efficient process for removing the impurities and for refining and restoring the oil to its normal virgin state, so that it can be used over and over instead of being discarded as waste. Another object is to provide simple, practical, inexpensive and efiicient apparatus for treating crank case or other oils in accordance with my process.

Crank case oil also receives considerable quantities of gasoline or other ignition fuel from the engine cylinders which soon thins out the oil and destroys its lubricating efliciency. Another feature of my invention is the reclaiming of all such gasoline or other, fuel in a pure stateso that it can be reused for fuel purposes.

In accordance with my process I first subject the crank case oil to treatment, in the presence of heat and Vacuum and under agitation, with some alkali providing agent and an oxygen supplying agent. The alkali producing agentcould be silicate of soda, and the oxygen supplying agent could be a per-salt, such as per-carbonate, per-borate or per-sulphate. The mixture of oil and chemicals is heated to about 200 F. and under such heat and vacuum effect and agitation, the alkali will saponify any animal oils, vegetable oil, fish oil or othersaponifiable matters which may be in the crank case oil,

' and the liberated silicate forms a gel, which will absorb the soap and also many of the impurities from the crank case oil such as carbon, coloring matters, dust, etc. The persalt is an oxidizing agent for such part of the crank case oil which has broken down in the service of lubrication and such part Will, in the presence of the alkali and heat, be saponified and then adsorbed by the silicate.

After the saponification step the mass is quieted and allowed to settle, and such settle- 1927. Serial N0. 195,687.

mentwill be in two layers, the lower layer containing the impurities held by the silicate, and the upper layer containin the partly cleaned crank case oil. The ower layer is drained off to leave the partly refined oil for further treatment and complete purification and refinement.

To this remaining crank case oil, which still contains coloring matter and other impurities, and which also contains the gasoline or other fuel oil which was received thereby during its service, I add material such as fullers earth which is highly adsorptive and which has been treated or impregnated with sulphur-dioxide, the entire mass being then heated while under vacuum and agitation. \Vhen the thermometer reaches about 400 F. and While the mass is under vacuum eii'ect, all gasoline or other ignition fuel will distill off and can be condensed and collected into a suitable receptacle. Due to the fullers earth present and the sulphurdioxide in the earth, and also due to the vacuum effect, the cracking of crank case oil itself is prevented and the distillation of the gasoline will go on unhindered until it is entirely removed from the crank case oil. The fullers earth has preferably been treated very heavily with sulphur dioxide so that during the distillation process an inert gas will be present which will assist the distillation of the gasoline and prevent cracking of the oil. The gasoline which is driven off is practically water white and can be used directly for ignition purposes.

The sulphur-dioxide treated fullers earth also adsorbs the coloring matter and remaining impurities out of the oil, and after the distillation process the entire mass is run through a filter to separate the fullers earth with the adsorbed coloring matter and impurities from the oil, which oil in its pure and cleaned condition may be used for lubrication .purposes with the same efiieiency as the original oil.

The vacuum effect is a very important factor in my process as it not only assists the distillation, but it serves to remove during. the various process steps, all odorous matters out of the mass being treated.

The drawing is an elevational view, partly in diametral section, of a simple and eificient form of apparatus for carrying out my process. The apparatus comprises a tank 10 having the vertical axially extending shaft 11 therein, the shaft being engaged at its lower end in the bearing 12 and at its upper end in the bearing frame 13 secured to the top of the tank. At its upper end the shaft carries the beveled gear 14 which meshes with the beveled-pinion 15 on the cross shaft 16which is journaled in the frame work 17 mounted on top of the tank. The cross shaft also su ports the gear 18 which is engaged by the driving pinion 19 of the electric motor 20 mounted on top of the frame work 17. This frame work 17 also supports a pump 21 on whose shaft is a pinion 22 which meshes with the gear 18, the shaft 11 and the pump being thus driven from the motor 20.

Within the tank 10 the shaft 11 carries paddle or agitator blades 23, one set of such blades being adjacent to the bottom of the tank. Extending into the tank from the exterior'thereof are also a number of electrical heating units 24 .whose connection with a supply circuit can be controlled in any well known manner. A thermometer 25 will indicate .the temperature within the tank. The electric heat units may be interspersed with the agitator blades to act as battles and thereby assist the blades in thorough agitation of the tank contents.

The condenser tank 26 has the condenser coil 27 connected at its upper end with the main tank 10 and discharging at its lower end into the receptacle 28, cooling fluid being circulated through the tank 26 by means of piping 29.

The screen or filter structure comprises a tank 30 having the removable cover 31. A distance below the cover the tank has secured at its inner side a supporting shelf 32 which may be in the form of an angle bar, and this shelf supports the apron or funnel 33. The shelf also supports filter structure which as shown may comprise upper and lower screen discs 34 and 35 of difierent mesh, and an intermediate screen 36 of fabric such as canvas. The upper screen may be of 100 mesh and the lower screen of 200 mesh. The screen structures may be removably held in place by means of bolts 37 extending upwardly from the supporting shelf 32 and having wing nuts 38. A ipe 39 .controlled by a valve 40 extends rom the bottom of the tank 10 and to the top of the tank 30 abovethe filter structure. The tank 30 has a valve controlled discharge fitting 41 at its lower end.

The inlet or suction end of the pump 21 is connected thru valve 42 with the pipe 43 which pipe leads to the filter tank 30 below the filter structure, a branch pipe 44 connecting the pipe 43 with the receptacle 28, which receptacle is closed to the air and connected thru the condenser coil 27 with the upper part of the main-tank 10. The connection of the vacuum pipe 43 with the filter tank is controlled by a valve 45 and the connection with the receptacle 28 is controlled by a valve 46. When the valve 46 is open, the receptacle 28 and the main tank 10 will be subjected to vacuum effect.

The pump 21 has another inlet 47 controlled by the valve 48, this inlet, in practice, being connected with the tank from which the oil to be treated is to be pumped into the tank 10. The pump has the discharge outlet 49 connected with the tank 10 and controlled by a valve 50 and has also the discharge outlet 51 leading into the open and controlled by a valve 52. When the pump is to be used for charging oil into the tank 10 the valves 42 and 52 are closed and the valves 48 and 50 opened. The pump will then draw the oil to be treated and force it into the tank 10. After such charging in of the oil the valves 48 and 50 are again closed and the valves 42 and 52,

opened. Subject to the control of the valves 45 and 46 the filter tank, the condenser tank, and the main tank 10 are then connected for vacuum effect produced by the pump. Any odors arising during the treatment of the materials will escape into the open through the discharge outlet 51. The degree of vacuum will *be indicated by the gauge 53.

The oil to be treated is pumped-into the tank 10 thru the inlet '47 and during this time the vent valve 54 may be open. The various chemicals are charged in through the opening 55 at the top of the tank, these chemicals as before stated being an alkaline compound andy'some oxygen producing element, as for example, silicate of soda and per-carbonate. The valves 54, 48 and 50, and the passageway 55 are now closed and the valves 42, 45, 46 and 52 opened for the application of vacuum effect from the pump. The motor is also started to operate the pump and the agitator blades, and the electric heating units are turned on, so that the oil to be reclaimed, will be thoroughly 'mixed while being agitated, and heated.

When the thermometer shows about 200 Fahrenheit the agitation is stopped and the heater may be turned downor off. The tank contents are now allowed to settle, the partially cleaned oil remaining on top and the chemicals'with the soap and impurities settling on the bottom from where they may be -withdrawn thru the valve outlet 56. During such withdrawal the pump may be shut ofi and the vent valve 54 opened.

I have found that the proportion approximately 20 parts of oil to be treated to one part of chemicals, by weight, gives very good results for the preliminary cleaning and refining of the oil. For the next step, the proportion of approximately 10% by weight of fullers earth in the partly refined oil in the tank is very efficient. This fullers earth which has been previously heavily treated or impregnated with sulphur-dioxide further decolorization of the oil.

is charged into the passageway 55 and then this passageway and the vent valve 54 are closed and the agitators and the pump again set in operation. The electric heaters are alsoagain turned on or up so that the tank contents will be agitated under heat and vacuum efiect. During this process the sulphur-dioxide impregnated fullers earth will adsorb the remaining coloring matter and other impurities from the oil, and when the temperature reaches about 400 Fahrenheit the gasoline and any other lighter fuel oils will be distilled off and will flow through the condenser to be condensed, the condensate being received in 'the receptacle 28 from which it may be drawn off by the cock 57. Most motor fuels do not have a higher end point than 437 Fahrenheit. However, due to the fullers earth present and the sulphur-dioxide, and the vacuum, cracking of the oil itself will be prevented and all the gasoline or other fuel will distill off when the thermometer reaches about 400 Fahrenheit, and the temperature is not allowed to increase over this point. The inert gas which is present owing to the heavily impregnated fullers earth will also assist the distillation and will prevent the cracking. The fuel which is distilled off is practically water white and is ready for use in internal combustion engines.

After distilling off the fuel agitation is stopped. The valve 40 is then opened to connect the tank 10 with the filtration tank 30 above the filter structure, and to facilitate the flow of the mass from the tank 10 the valve 46 is closed to withdraw the suction effect from the tank 10 and the vent valve 54 may be opened. The oil with the fullers earth thoroughly mixed therewith then flows into the filtration tank on to the filtration structure, and the suction remaining effective in the filtration tank below the filter structure, the thoroughly cleaned and purified oil will be drawn through the screens and filter and the fullers earth will be retained on the filter. The suction pump is then turned off and the purified oil can be withdrawn thru the outlet 41. Upon opening the cover 31 of the filter tank the filter structure may be removed from the supporting ledge 32 and the fullers earth with all the impurities therein cleaned therefrom. The cover is then reapplied and sealed and the apparatus is ready for another purification operation.

The temperature and vacuum effect play very important parts in my process. During the saponification step and the adsorption of the soap and impurities the temperature should be kept from rising above a point at which the characteristics of the chemicals mi ht change, and also to prevent I have found that if during the saponification step the temperature is kept at about 200 Fahrenheit, and in the presence of vacuum of about 20 inches, the chemicals will perform properly and the oil will not be endangered. In other words the saponification which without vacuum effect might require such temperature as might endanger the oil itself, will take place readily under vacuum effect at a lower temperature of about 200 Fahrenheit.

As before pointed out the presence of vacuum will permit efficient distillation of the motor fuel from the oil at a lower temperature and thus prevent cracking of the oil itself.

The vacuum effect is also active in thoroughly and efficiently drawing the purified oil out of the fullers earth in the filtration tank, and during the entire process all odor out of the crank case oil and the other materials will be discharged into the open thru the pump discharge outlet 51.

It will be noted that in the filtration tank the supporting annular ledge 32 is intimately secured against the tank and the flange of the funnel 33 is intimately clamped against the ledge. This makes its possible for the vacuum or suction in the ta-nk'to draw on the filter structure only by way of the axial passageway thru the funnel, and this will prevent unfiltered oil from escaping directly to the tank below the filter structure. To assist in this operation the canvas or other filter fabric 36 may have the thickened perimeter 36 clamped between the upper and lower screens and against the side of the tank to fofm a sealed joint. Any oil from the fullers earth must therefore first pass thru the filter fabric before reaching the funnel and the filter tank.

I thus produce a very simple, practical, inexpensive and-eflicient process and apparatus for purifying and refining otherwise waste crank case and other oil and for extracting from the oil the motor fuels in a state in which they can be immediately reused in the operation of internal combustion engines.

I claim as follows:

1. The process of reclaiming used oils' which consists in saponifying the alkali soluble contents, withdrawing such saponified matter from the oil, then mixing sulphurdioxide impregnated fullers earth with the 'oil, and then filtering the mixtures to separate from the oil the fullers earth with the adsorbed coloring matter and other impurities.

2. The process of reclaiming used lubricating oil which consists in subjecting it to an alkali treatment to saponify'the alkali soluble contents, withdrawing such saponified matter from the oil, then mixing a sulphur-dioxide impregnated adsorbent substance with the oil for adsorbing the colorimpurities, and then filtering such substance and adsorbed matter therein from the oil.

4. The process of reclaiming used oil which consists in saponifying the saponifiable contentsunder the application of heat and agitation, withdrawing such saponified matter from the oil, then thoroughly mixing sulphur-dioxide impregnated fullers earth with the oil, and then filtering the mixture to separate from the oil the fullers earth with the adsorbed coloring matter and other impurities.

5. The process of reclaiming used lubricating oil which consists in saponifying the saponifiable contents under the application of heat and agitation, permitting the mass to settle, withdrawing the saponified matter from the mass, then mixing sulphur-dioxide treated adsorbent material with the remaining oil under the application of heat and agitation to cause the adsorbent substance to adsorb the coloring matter and other impurities in the oil and to cause the heat to distill the lighter hydro-carbon therefrom, and then filtering the remaining mass to separate the adsorbed matter and impurities and to deliver the cleaned oil.

6. The process of reclaiming used mineral oil which consists in adding a sulphur-di oxide impregnated adsorbent substance thereto, agitating the mass under the application of heat and vacuum to cause the adsorbent substance to adsorb the coloring matter and other impurities from the oil, and then filtering the mass to extract the cleaned oil therefrom.

7. The process of reclaiming used crank case oil which, consists in'adding thereto a sulphur-dioxide impregnated adsorbent substance, agitating the mixture under'the application of heat and vacuum to cause the adsorbent substance to adsorb the coloring matter and other impurities and to cause the heat to distill off any lighter oil contents such as gasoline, and then filtering the remaining mass to withdraw the cleaned and purified oil therefrom.

8. The process of purifying used mineral oil which consist in adding thereto a sulphur-dioxide impregnated adsorbent substance, agitating the mixture under the application of vacuum to cause the adsorbent substance to adsorb the coloring matter and other impurities in the oil, and then filtering the mass under'the application of vacuum to extract the purified oil therefrom.

9. The process of reclaiming used mineral oil which consists in adding thereto an alkaline agent and an oxygen supplying agent, then agitating the mass under the application of heat to cause saponification of the saponifiable contents, permitting the mass to settle and drawing off the saponified contents, then mixing with the remaining oil a sulphur-dioxide impregnated adsorbent substance and thoroughly agitating the mass under the application of heat to cause said substance to adsorb the coloring matter and other impurities from the oil, and then filtering the mass to extract the purified oil therefrom.

10. The process of purifying used lubricating oil which consists in mixing therewith silicate of soda and a per-salt to cause saponification of any saponifiable contents in the oil, then'allowing the mass to settle to permit the silicate to form a gel and adsorb the saponified contents and other impurities from the oil, then withdrawing this gel, then adding a sulphur-dioxide impregnated adsorbent substance with the remaining oil to cause adsorption of the coloring matter and remaining impurities in the oil, then filtering the mass to extract the purified oil therefrom.

11. The process of treating used crank case or other waste oil which consists in stance to cause adsorption from the oil of remaining coloring matter and impurities and to distill ofl any lighter oil contents, then filtering the remaining mass under the application of vacuum to draw off the purified oil.

12. The process of reclaiming used crank case or other waste oil which consists in causing saponification under the applicationof heat and vacuum of the saponifiable contents of the oil, then withdrawing the saponified substance, then thoroughly. mixing with the remaining oil under agitation and the application of heat fullers earth impregnated with sulphur-dioxide to cause the adsorption from the oil of the remaining coloring matter and impurities and distillation of any lighter oil contents, and then filtering the remaining mass to extract the cleaned and purified oil therefrom.

13. In apparatus for reclaiming used crank case oil or other waste oil, the combination of a tank, means for agitating and means for heating the tank contents, a

- filter structure connected to receive the contents from said tank, a pump having a controllable discharge outlet to said tank and a controllable discharge outlet to the open, and means for selectively connecting the inlet of said pump with said tank and filter structure. I

14. In apparatus for reclaiming used crank case oil or other waste oil, the combination of a tank, means for agitating and means for heatin the tank contents, a filter structure adapte for connection to receive the tank contents, a suction pump and means for selectively connecting it with said tank and said filter structure to produce vacuum effect, and a condenser structure having a coil interposed inthe vacuum connection with said tank.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of May, 1927.

RUDOLPH R. ROSENBAUM. 

